Box Score

As part of their fourth straight loss, and first WAC series loss, the Dallas Baptist Patriots (16-15, 4-4) left fifteen runners on base and struck out ten times in a 7-5 loss to New Mexico State (18-14, 4-4) on Saturday night. Four solo homeruns were not enough for DBU on the night as the Patriots came back from down five runs early to tie the game in the third inning - only to see their offense stymied by a pair of NMSU relievers in the final six innings of the ballgame.

Cy Sneed, who received a no-decision in the game, ran into trouble early in his start as he allowed five runs on five hits in the first inning. The frame featured a Baltimore Chop double over the head of Duncan McAlpine at first, a more conventional double to right center, an inside-the-park homerun over the glove of Ronnie Mitchell as he banged into the outfield wall, and a towering homerun to centerfield. Sneed would regroup, though, by working into the sixth inning without allowing another tally. In the sixth, after a leadoff double, he would give way to Michael Smith, who pitched out of the jam without allowing a run in the frame.

Sneed's work allowed his offense time to get back into the game. In the second inning, Duncan McAlpine got DBU on the board with a solo homerun to lead off the frame. Nash Knight picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk in the same inning to cut the NMSU lead to three runs. In the third, DBU tied the score with help from the long ball. Boomer Collins, Ronnie Mitchell, and Austin Listi all hit homeruns with nobody aboard to tie the game at five. The airshow would be short-lived, though, as DBU failed to score again in the game. DBU stranded 15 runners in the game, mostly due to ten strikeouts, the fifth time this season they have reached double-digits in that category.

The game would stay square at five until an ill-fated seventh inning. DBU had a chance to take the lead when the first two batters of the inning reached. Listi walked to open the the inning and advanced to third on a Knight single to right. Knight was thrown out at second trying to stretch his base hit into a double - but DBU still had the go-ahead run at third with one out. Mike Wesolowski was not able to advance Listi ninety feet, however, as he grounded out softly to short and then, with two outs, Jaime Garrido popped out to center to end the threat.

Smith, still on in relief, walked the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh before allowing two hits in the inning to give New Mexico State their final two tallies of the night. The Patriots would threaten in the ninth with a Mitchell double and a Listi single but Evan Mott came on for New Mexico State and struck out the final three batters of the night.

Dallas Baptist will try to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Cody Beam will start for DBU in search of his third win on the season. Fans can listen live at dbupatriots.com/showcase with Brendan Smith and Reagan Ratcliff calling all the action from Las Cruces.